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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Belarus on Thursday for a two-day visit as part of several foreign tours at the start of his fifth term. He referred to Russia’s relations with the neighbor who played a key role in the war. Putin visited China earlier this month and is expected to visit Uzbekistan on Sunday. Earlier on Thursday, the Russian president hosted Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Kremlin.
In Belarus, Putin is to hold talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko. According to the Kremlin report, Lukashenko welcomed him and then the two leaders held talks at the airport.
Discussion on security issues
During this, Lukashenko promised to further discuss security issues. He said that we will discuss economic issues together with our colleagues of governments. The Belarusian leader on Thursday appointed a new chief of the country’s military general staff, analysts say it is aimed at showing the Kremlin’s extreme loyalty to its neighbor and ally.
Use of Belarus in the war with Ukraine
Russia used Belarus in the war with Ukraine. Also deployed some of its troops from Belarusian territory there. In 2023, Russia also deployed some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Major General Pavel Muravka, who was appointed as Belarus’ chief of general staff and first deputy defense minister. He is known for publicly threatening neighboring NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
No ground connection to Russia
In October 2023, he said Belarus could seize the so-called Suwalki Gap, a sparsely populated area of land running for about 100 kilometers (60 miles) along the Polish-Lithuanian border. It connects Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with the rest of the NATO alliance and separates Belarus from Kaliningrad, a heavily militarized Russian region on the Baltic Sea that has no ground connection to Russia.
Military analysts in the West have long viewed the Suwalki Gap as a potential flashpoint in any confrontation between Russia and NATO. They worry that Russia could try to close the gap and isolate the three Baltic states from Poland and other NATO countries.
Deployment of Russian nuclear weapons
Independent Belarusian analyst Valery Karbalevich told The Associated Press that Muraveyko’s appointment is an open challenge to the West and a desire to show Putin Minsk’s full loyalty to maintain a strategic partnership with Russia. Karbalevich said the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus leaves Lukashenko no strategic options but turns him into a hostage of the Kremlin and ties Minsk tightly to Moscow’s policies.
Both Russia and Belarus began military exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons earlier this month. Moscow said its exercises, first publicly announced on May 6, were a response to statements by Western officials that indicated possible deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s war drills
Belarus began its war drills on May 7 involving missiles and warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, Russia’s war drills began this week. Moscow has stressed that tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus will remain under Russian military control.
Deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus
The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will give Russian aircraft and missiles the power to reach their targets more easily and quickly if Moscow decides to use them. It also increases Russia’s ability to target several NATO allies in eastern and central Europe. Let us tell you that there is a 1,084 kilometer border with Ukraine.
